The Tale of Devil’s Tower

There are places in this world that leave us breathless. Nature, with all its grandeur, can spark an uncontainable curiosity, prompting the mind to ask not only how something was formed, but why. One such place is Wyoming’s striking geological feature known as Devil’s Tower—a sacred site to Native Americans and a striking monument of natural forces.

But here’s the thing: if you ask the local Native tribes how Devil’s Tower came to be, you might get a story that sounds… nearly fantastical. Yet, to some, this ancient tale is a cherished belief, rooted in longstanding tradition. Similarly, some of the stories many of us were raised on may sound just as outlandish to people from different cultures.

The Legend of Devil’s Tower: A Battle Between Children and Bears

According to Lakota Sioux and Kiowa traditions, the formation of Devil’s Tower begins with a group of children playing near the forest. Suddenly, monstrous bears—of a terrifying size—begin to chase them. Desperate and frightened, the children run toward a rock, praying for safety. The great stone rises from the ground, carrying the children high above the earth, beyond the reach of their attackers. Furious, the giant bears claw at the rock’s sides, leaving the deep vertical grooves we can see today. Ultimately, the bears fall to their fate, leaving the towering monument as a symbol of safety and protection.

In the legend, Devil’s Tower stands as a testament to divine intervention, holding the history and faith of those who believe in the strength of their storytelling ancestors.

It’s a beautiful, powerful myth. And for some Native groups, it persists as literal truth explaining the origin of this awe-inspiring tower. Yet, geologists—armed with centuries of research and scientific tools—point to a very different (and decidedly less bear-related) explanation.

The Science of Devil’s Tower

Geologically speaking, Devil’s Tower is the result of igneous activity—volcanic processes that occurred millions of years ago. Scientists have concluded that molten rock (called magma) pushed its way up through the earth's crust and then cooled and hardened beneath the surface long before erosion eventually stripped away softer rock layers. Over time, rain, wind, and snow wore down the surrounding landscape, leaving the harder, columnar rock exposed as we see it today—that’s why Devil’s Tower stands towering over the flat plains that stretch for miles.

The giant claw marks? Those are actually vertical columns formed by the way the molten rock cracked as it cooled, a well-documented process visible in similar formations across the world, such as the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. No bears necessary.

So here we are, standing at the crossroads of myth and reason. The native tradition surrounding Devil’s Tower tells a beautiful, vibrant story of community, survival, and courage. But science, through careful study, provides what is (quite literally) a rock-solid answer as to how this magnificent feature appeared.

The Bridge Between Myths and Curiosity

It’s not hard to see how ancient people, without the vast scientific knowledge available to us today, pieced together these kinds of origin stories. In the absence of modern technology—like seismographs, carbon dating, or erosion models—early humans relied on the tools they had: storytelling, imagination, and a desire to make sense of their awe-inspiring surroundings.

This doesn’t mean that those who handed down these stories were “wrong,” but rather that through their own understanding of the world—limited by the lens of their time—they sought explanations in the way most natural to their experience. What’s important is recognizing how these stories weren’t conclusions based on evidence; they were metaphorical frameworks to help ancient people relate to their environment.

And if we’re honest with ourselves today, many of our own belief systems might have similar elements. Think of the classic Christian stories: the parting of the Red Sea, Noah’s Ark carrying all the species of the earth, or the critical moment when Jesus was conceived by a virgin. Seen from a scientific standpoint, these tales don’t align with the rules of biology or the laws of physics; but, for believers, they offer deeper spiritual truths. One can practice faith while understanding that some of these stories function more as metaphor than historical fact.

In fact, that's key: just as many Christians and other religious believers might find Native American origin myths hard to swallow literally, in time, they might start to question whether it's necessary to interpret everything from their own religious texts literally as well.

When the Metaphor Becomes the Message

Here’s what really matters: stories like the one about Devil’s Tower weren’t told to trick or mislead anyone—they offered a framework for understanding. They provided meaning in a chaotic and unpredictable world. And whether we’re talking about Native myths, the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, or ancient Greek legends about Zeus, we can see a common thread: the human need to explain the unexplainable, to bring order to the mysterious forces around us.

That said, as human knowledge evolves, so too should our conversation around these stories. Science doesn’t dismiss mythology or religion completely—in fact, it often helps us uncover the deeper meanings embedded within ancient tales.

Perhaps it wasn’t about whether or not children were actually lifted onto a magical rock to escape bears. Perhaps it was about community, hope, survival, and understanding our place in the grand fabric of life. These myths didn’t arise out of ignorance but out of curiosity, the same curiosity that later led us to invent the microscope, the telescope, and the geological tools needed to understand Devil’s Tower.

But with tools like reason, scientific inquiry, and evidence, we can now refine those understandings. We can appreciate the myth without tying ourselves to taking every word literally.

Parallels Across Cultures

If you’re Christian, you might scoff at the idea of giant bears clawing a mountain. But what if someone turned that same skeptical lens on the story of Noah and his Ark, asking how all the species of the Earth—millions of life forms—could fit in a single vessel? Or how a snake could physically speak to Eve in the Garden of Eden?

Would it seem condescending to be told that your beliefs aren’t to be taken literally? Probably. And that’s exactly the delicate balance we must strike when addressing ancient myth and religion—we shouldn't outright dismiss them. Instead, we should investigate and probe further, refining our understanding through the process of questioning.

Science, in its purest form, isn’t out to destroy centuries of tradition or belief, but to carry the torch of human curiosity one step further.

The Difference Between Wonder and Literalism

At the end of the day, the takeaway should be this: curiosity fuels both myth and science. There’s beauty in both the story of children being saved from giant bears, and in the slow, tectonic reality of magma forming rock formations over millions of years.

The key is knowing when to celebrate a tale for its metaphorical richness and when to investigate the world using reason, logic, and evidence. Every belief, no matter how sacred, once stood under the same scrutiny. Remember: until a few centuries ago, many believed the Earth was at the center of the universe! Those beliefs weren’t born out of malice, but out of limited knowledge.

As humans, we evolve. Our understanding evolves. And with that evolution comes the ability to respect the stories of old while embracing the more accurate, incredible realities that science and reason unearth.

So Ask Questions—but Don’t Lose the Wonder

What will you choose when confronted with a myth, legend, or religious story? Will you take it at face value? Or will you dare to ask more questions, push further, and see if reason presents a more fulfilling answer?

It’s not about dismissing what we’re taught—it’s about deepening our understanding. After all, real wisdom doesn't shy away from the truth—it embraces it.

Curiosity may have been what brought us myths, but it’s also what ushered in science. And together, they make the world so much more profound than either one could alone.

So let’s continue to celebrate what we know—and never stop exploring what we don’t.

Call to Action: Begin exercising your critical thinking muscles today by considering the stories that shape your worldview. Is there room to allow both metaphor and evidence to coexist, providing deeper wisdom? What could questioning our ancient myths—respectfully and thoroughly—teach us about the world we live in today?